NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Alex Palou on the Brink of Title with Win No. 8: ‘It’s Never Over Until It’s Over’
Published Jul. 27, 2025 9:05 p.m. ET
MONTEREY, Calif. — Alex Palou might not have had the right strategy in Toronto last week, but he certainly nailed it on Sunday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. fiba asia cup 2023 schedule The winning strategy? Just get the victory. Palou celebrated after securing his eighth win of the season at the NTT INDYCAR Series Java House Grand Prix of Monterey. This win marked his dominance as he led 84 out of 95 laps, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished by any INDYCAR driver since Sebastien Bourdais in 2007.
Driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, Palou has now extended his points lead to 121 over Pato O’Ward, who finished fourth, with just three races left in the season. “It’s never over until it’s over,” Palou remarked. “I think I proved that with a mistake at Mid-Ohio, and we’ve seen similar situations in the past. Honestly, I wouldn’t trade our points for anyone else’s. I wouldn’t swap our position or ask for anything more or less. It’s not done until it’s done joaquin jaymalin. We still need to win and keep our heads down to secure more victories.”
Although Palou doesn’t strictly need to win more races, he only needs to average a 16th-place finish over the remaining events. Should he maintain a 108-point lead after the next race in two weeks at Portland International Raceway—a circuit where he has achieved two victories—he will officially clinch the title. all bet The final two races this season will be held on oval tracks in Milwaukee and Nashville.
If Palou wins at Portland or finishes second while also earning a bonus point for leading a lap or achieving pole position, he’ll secure the championship regardless of O’Ward’s performance. Currently, O’Ward remains the only driver with a mathematical chance to nab the title. “It’s a formidable challenge, but it’s still mathematically possible,” O’Ward said. “Is it likely? Probably not, but we’ll keep pushing. We haven’t finished worse than fifth this month, and we’ve had some top-five finishes, including two wins. That’s impressive!”
O’Ward mirrored his best finish at Laguna. In most seasons, the Arrow McLaren driver would be seen as having a solid year. “We’re second in the championship, but we’ve been the best of the rest,” O’Ward explained. “Palou’s car has had an unbelievable season.” Palou has clinched the last two championships and three out of the last four. However, this season, he has reached new heights.
“Even if he makes a mistake, they somehow recover,” shared O’Ward’s teammate Christian Lundgaard, who placed second on Sunday. “They’re performing consistently well, and they deserve credit for being competitive every time they hit the track.” Lundgaard reflected on his own strong start to the season, noting he was still significantly behind Palou in the championship standings after boasting three podium finishes. “The only difference? Palou won four out of those races. with di ko kilala”
Palou has now reached eight wins this season, with the record for wins in a season being ten by A.J. Foyt in 1964 and Al Unser in 1970. He believes that achieving ten wins is within reach and expresses his enthusiasm about the possibility. “It seems like a lot of work to achieve, but I don’t mind discussing it,” Palou said. “Whenever you’re in the running for something that’s historic and so challenging, it motivates us.”
After a disappointing 12th-place finish in Toronto, where the team struggled with tire strategy due to unexpected cautions, Palou came back strong. He led the last 59 laps at Laguna Seca, maintaining his advantage during two late restarts at one of his favorite tracks, where he now has three career victories. “I probably spent hours on the simulator here when I was younger, helping me to succeed,” said Palou. “This has always been one of my favorite tracks—it’s the most iconic road course we have.”
While Palou made winning look effortless, O’Ward had to push hard to finish fourth. “I was maximizing every ounce of performance out of the car. Every point counts, especially capitalizing on others’ mistakes,” O’Ward shared. “It was tough; we were aiming for a top 10, so to salvage a fourth is commendable. I felt I struggled out there, unable to extract peak performance. masbate hiring 2023”
Palou, on the other hand, delivered an impressive performance, just as he has done multiple times this season. “His performance is extraordinary,” O’Ward noted. “He’s operating at the highest level imaginable and has consistently been the best performer in recent years.”
What are your thoughts on Alex Palou’s chances of clinching the championship this season?
